I have a tall (300ft) and somewhat slender building and want to get input on drift criteria. The building is in a high seismic area as well. I can easily satisfy the l/400 drift for wind at the center of mass, but for the torsion wind cases the corners of my building exceed the l/400 suggested...
I am studying the methods documented in the commentary and there is a method of determing the displacment and accelerations over the height of a structure. This is under C6.5.8. There is a term "mode exponenet" that is not defined and is needed. Can any one enlighten me on what this term is...
I am investigating the use of ASCE 7 Chapter 19, which seems like a way of approximating Soil Structure Interaction (SSI) without including it in the Building Model. If this chapter is implimented it could reduce the lateral loads for design and drift.
I have used modal analysis procedures for...
I am working on a seismic retrofit of 1930s-1940s era concrete buildings for the Dept of Veterans Affairs (VA). We have the original construction drawings but they only refer to Type C and Type B concrete. We are doing material testing but ASCE 41 dictates different amount of testing required...
I am working on a seismic retrofit of 1930s-1940s era concrete buildings for the Dept of Veterans Affairs (VA). We have the original construction drawings but they only refer to Type C and Type B concrete. We are doing material testing but ASCE 41 dictates different amount of testing required...
I am analyzing an existing building with concrete joist floor system. The joists are 5in wide by 8in below the slab. The slab is only 2 or 2.5 in thick. The joist spacing is 20in and the spans are 10-12ft. I am in a high seismic area and the diaphragm strength is being evaluated. The slab alone...
I am trying to get access to old FEMA documents, mainly the 1994 provisions which i think are 222 and 223. I tried getting them through the FEMA distributor but they didn't have them in the warehouse. Is there a way to get these older documents in either electronic or hard copy form?
Thanks in...
Does anyone have experience with modeling a stepped basement wall for a building foundation? I am having trouble with applying a continuous footing at different levels along a wall that steps.
I am trying to calculate the gust effect factor for a structure that falls into the flexible category according to the code. There is bunch of equations to work through the calc but i get to calculating the R (eqn 6-10) and for RB the equation for n = 4.6*n1*E*B/Vz. The E in the equation is not...
I am trying to find a program that AISC used to have for download on there website. It was an actual program, not the excell files that are available now, that let you select the steel manual version and then the shape type and it would show all the properties for the shape. It even had the...
What is the best way to determine deflections in Version 12?
In Version 8 my firms procedure was to create a load combination called LONG and scale load cases to match the time period being investigated. For example the combo would have 2.0xDL, 2.0xSDL, and 0.5xLL for final deflection...
i am a structural guy so i am not super familiar with pumps but have some bakground knowledge from my civil engineering curriculum. Here is my question. I am trying to devise a propulsion system using a small gas powered water pump but can not convince myself it will work. I am trying to move a...
I am a structural engineer and am starting to get people asking me if i am interested in side work mostly residential stuff. I would like to start doing some to get experience with smaller jobs but need to get insurance. I am not sure what i should be looking for in a policy. Any advice would be...
I was wondering if there are published values for the interface/bond strength between composite steel deck and the concrete. I have looked through USD and Vulcraft books and can't find a value.
I want to model a pile cap in SAFE and have never done so previoulsy. I was wondering if anyone can give a brief overview of the process and point out any pitfalls to look out for.
Does anyone have recommendations on using SAFE to design beam reinforcing?
I tried a models using beam elements and using a slab element the width and depth of my beam element. I created a design strip the width of my slab element representing the beam. The strip shear in the slab element ended...
Does anyone have recommendations on using SAFE to design beam reinforcing?
I tried a models using beam elements and using a slab element the width and depth of my beam element. I created a design strip the width of my slab element representing the beam. The strip shear in the slab element ended...
Can anyone suggest a quick way to check punching shear and design shearstud reinforcing at a column with a beam framing into it from one side only, two perpendicular sides only? SAFE gives reactions at the support column, but cannot check punching shear at any column with irregularities in the...
